Launching a social enterprise see-and-treat service

Area of Science:

• Pediatric emergency medicine
• Primary care innovation
• Healthcare service delivery

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) frequently manage children with minor injuries and illnesses.
• Primary care services are often well-equipped to handle non-urgent pediatric conditions.
• There is a need for efficient and accessible healthcare solutions for pediatric primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of an innovative see-and-treat primary care service.
• To evaluate the impact of this service on emergency department attendance for pediatric patients.
• To highlight a successful partnership model between a primary care trust and a social enterprise.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative partnership was established between a primary care trust and a social enterprise.
• A dedicated see-and-treat primary care service was developed and implemented.
• Data on pediatric emergency department attendances were analyzed before and after service implementation.

Main Results:

• The see-and-treat primary care service led to a significant reduction in the number of children attending the emergency department.
• The innovative partnership model proved effective in re-directing pediatric care.
• The service provided an accessible alternative for managing minor pediatric conditions.

Conclusions:

• Primary care services can effectively manage many pediatric cases currently seen in emergency departments.
• Innovative partnerships can successfully develop and implement new healthcare models.
• This see-and-treat service demonstrates a viable strategy for optimizing pediatric healthcare resource allocation.